Jul 25, 2025
POWER Levels Up Nitro Create by Sponsoring RailsConf 2025
Earlier this month, POWER’s 29th Nitro Create merged with RailsConf 2025 for a first-of-its-kind event for the Business Technology (“BT”) division. What is typically a technology development sprint and showcase, transformed into a multi-day experience for employees to reset both professionally and personally.
When our tech leadership received word that Ruby Central’s RailsConf — the longest-running conference dedicated to the Rails framework — was coming to Philadelphia for its final run, they wanted to get involved.
Why RailsConf?
“Rails isn’t just a technology choice for us—it’s a philosophy,” explains Jenny Gray, POWER’s VP of Application Development and Infrastructure. “Since 2008, we’ve scaled a billion-dollar remodeling business on a custom-built, Rails-based platform that now powers every part of our operation. Partnering with RailsConf is a natural extension of that belief.”
At POWER, we operate with a build vs. buy mentality — meaning the technology that fuels our growth is entirely built and managed by our own employees. Our proprietary technology — including our business operating system called “Nitro” — is developed entirely in-house by our BT team, utilizing the Ruby on Rails framework.
Nitro Create Reimagined
Nitro Create is a long-standing tradition at POWER. Several times a year, we gather our tech workforce from across the globe to participate in a week-long sprint to develop new technological capabilities that advance both our business operating system, “Nitro”, and POWER’s business objectives. At the conclusion of the week, POWER’s tech teams present their work to their peers and company leadership.
We thought about how POWER could go beyond a typical sponsorship of the final RailsConf, because at POWER we don’t do anything status quo. Instead of handing over a check, we completely reimagined our July edition of Nitro Create, curating two personalized experiences for our attendees.
TRACK 1: Our team of 100+ Ruby on Rails developers stepped outside of their typical day-to-day and fully immersed themselves in RailsConf tech talks in downtown Philadelphia. It allowed them to connect with the broader Ruby community, hear from core contributors, explore emerging patterns, and bring back fresh ideas.
TRACK 2: Meanwhile, POWER Producteers, Designers, Scrum Masters, and SREs, experienced a series of unique team-building activities held at POWER’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Chester, PA. From journaling sessions, to group mental and physical challenges, their experience focused on agility, creativity, and team engagement.
Connecting with the Rails Community
During RailsConf, POWER Developers had the chance to network with peers in their space and attend various workshops and focus sessions about the Rails framework. It also allowed us to introduce POWER to the Rails community. POWER’s Principal Developer, Wade Winningham, hosted a focus session on POWER’s journey of migrating to a Component Based Rails Application (CBRA), the tools we’ve open sourced along the way, and our build vs. buy mentality.
“Through our involvement with RailsConf, we’re fueling inspiration, strengthening team bonds, and reinforcing our culture of continuous learning,” explains Gray. “It has also been a moment of pride—an affirmation that our team, our work, and our approach to building with Rails are not only respected but worth sharing on a national stage.”
Nighttime social events to connect even deeper with one another were also a part of the mix. POWER sponsored the RailsConf Happy Hour on day 1 of the conference, allowing the full Rails community to connect on a more casual level.
Transforming Teamwork
Back at POWER’s HQ, Producteers, Designers, Scrum Masters, and SREs went to “BT Camp,” learning how to work better together through a series of mindful mental exercises and fun physical challenges. The goal was to create an experience that left this group feeling refreshed, informed, and elevated.
Both tracks of POWER team members were reunited for an unforgettable evening of dinner and dancing on the Moshulu, Philadelphia’s iconic waterfront restaurant and historic ship on the Delaware River.
“Because of Create, our people have returned with sharper skills, deeper connections, and a renewed sense of purpose,” Gray recounts. “That kind of energy and perspective is invaluable—not just for the individual, but for the future of Nitro and the entire POWER tech organization.”
Looking for a purpose-driven tech career? Visit our Careers page for open positions.
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